Exploring Tb³⁺-Mediated Interactions with Glutathione-Capped Gold Nanoclusters to Develop a Fluorophore-Modified...

Area of Science:

• Nanomaterials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Lactoferrin (Lf) is a crucial protein in immune response and diagnostics.
• Developing sensitive and reliable methods for Lf detection is essential for clinical applications.
• Existing detection methods may lack the sensitivity or practicality required for certain biological samples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a ratiometric fluorescent probe for sensitive and selective detection of lactoferrin (Lf).
• To utilize aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of gold nanoclusters for enhanced signal output.
• To validate the probe's performance in complex biological matrices like human tears.

Main Methods:

• Conjugation of BDP-FL fluorescent molecules onto glutathione (GSH)-capped gold nanoclusters (Au29-43(GSH)27-37).
• Terbium ion (Tb3+)-induced aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) of the nanoclusters.
• Ratiometric detection based on the selective disruption of nanocluster aggregates by Lf, altering emission intensities.

Main Results:

• The developed probe exhibits distinct emissions at 517 nm (BDP-FL) and 606 nm (Au29-43(GSH)27-37).
• A wide linear detection range (0.01-4.0 mg/mL) and a low limit of detection (3.4 μg/mL) were achieved.
• The probe demonstrated high accuracy and reliability in 10-fold-diluted human tear samples, with recovery rates between 99.98-101.8%.

Conclusions:

• The ratiometric AIEE probe offers a sensitive, selective, and reproducible method for Lf determination.
• The probe's effectiveness in diluted human tear samples highlights its clinical potential.
• The study provides insights into nanomaterial design for tailored optical properties and diagnostic applications.